William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (221 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
4.4Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
GRAZIANO (
to Shylock
)
to Shylock
)
Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself—
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
Thou hast not left the value of a cord.
Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s charge.
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
Thou hast not left the value of a cord.
Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s charge.
DUKE (
to Shylock
)
to Shylock
)
That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it.
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s.
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it.
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s.
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
PORTIA
Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.
SHYLOCK
Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that.
You take my house when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house; you take my life
When you do take the means whereby I live.
That doth sustain my house; you take my life
When you do take the means whereby I live.
PORTIA
What mercy can you render him, Antonio?
GRAZIANO
A halter, gratis. Nothing else, for God’s sake.
ANTONIO
So please my lord the Duke and all the court
To quit the fine for one half of his goods,
I am content, so he will let me have
The other half in use, to render it
Upon his death unto the gentleman
That lately stole his daughter.
Two things provided more: that for this favour
He presently become a Christian;
The other, that he do record a gift
Here in the court of all he dies possessed
Unto his son, Lorenzo, and his daughter.
To quit the fine for one half of his goods,
I am content, so he will let me have
The other half in use, to render it
Upon his death unto the gentleman
That lately stole his daughter.
Two things provided more: that for this favour
He presently become a Christian;
The other, that he do record a gift
Here in the court of all he dies possessed
Unto his son, Lorenzo, and his daughter.
DUKE
He shall do this, or else I do recant
The pardon that I late pronouncèd here.
The pardon that I late pronouncèd here.
PORTIA
Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say?
SHYLOCK
I am content.
PORTIA (to Nerissa) Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
SHYLOCK
I pray you give me leave to go from hence.
I am not well. Send the deed after me,
And I will sign it.
And I will sign it.
DUKE Get thee gone, but do it.
GRAZIANO (
to Shylock
)
to Shylock
)
In christ’ning shalt thou have two godfathers.
Had I been judge thou shouldst have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
Had I been judge thou shouldst have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
Exit Shylock
DUKE (
to Portia
)
to Portia
)
Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.
PORTIA
I humbly do desire your grace of pardon.
I must away this night toward Padua,
And it is meet I presently set forth.
And it is meet I presently set forth.
DUKE
I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.
Antonio, gratify this gentleman,
For in my mind you are much bound to him.
Antonio, gratify this gentleman,
For in my mind you are much bound to him.
Exit Duke and his train
BASSANIO (
to Portia
)
to Portia
)
Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof
Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof
Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
ANTONIO
And stand indebted over and above
In love and service to you evermore.
In love and service to you evermore.
PORTIA
He is well paid that is well satisfied,
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid.
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you know me when we meet again.
I wish you well; and so I take my leave.
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid.
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you know me when we meet again.
I wish you well; and so I take my leave.
BASSANIO
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further.
Take some remembrance of us as a tribute,
Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you:
Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you:
Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
PORTIA
You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
⌈
To Antonio
⌉ Give me your gloves. I’ll wear them for
your sake.
(
To Bassanio
) And for your love I’ll take this ring from
you.
Do not draw back your hand. I’ll take no more,
And you in love shall not deny me this.
⌈
To Antonio
⌉ Give me your gloves. I’ll wear them for
your sake.
(
To Bassanio
) And for your love I’ll take this ring from
you.
Do not draw back your hand. I’ll take no more,
And you in love shall not deny me this.
BASSANIO
This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle.
I will not shame myself to give you this.
PORTIA
I will have nothing else, but only this;
And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.
And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.
BASSANIO
There’s more depends on this than on the value.
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
And find it out by proclamation.
Only for this, I pray you pardon me.
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
And find it out by proclamation.
Only for this, I pray you pardon me.
PORTIA
I see, sir, you are liberal in offers.
You taught me first to beg, and now methinks
You teach me how a beggar should be answered.
You teach me how a beggar should be answered.
BASSANIO
Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife,
And when she put it on she made me vow
That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.
And when she put it on she made me vow
That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.
PORTIA
That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts.
An if your wife be not a madwoman,
And know how well I have deserved this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you.
An if your wife be not a madwoman,
And know how well I have deserved this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you.
Exeunt Portia and Nerissa
ANTONIO
My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring.
Let his deservings and my love withal
Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandëment.
Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandëment.
BASSANIO
Go, Graziano, run and overtake him.
Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,
Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.
Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.
Exit Graziano
Come, you and I will thither presently,
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.
Exeunt
4.2And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.
Exeunt
Enter Portia and Nerissa, still disguised
PORTIA
Enquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed,
And let him sign it. We’ll away tonight,
And be a day before our husbands home.
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
And let him sign it. We’ll away tonight,
And be a day before our husbands home.
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
Enter Graziano
GRAZIANO Fair sir, you are well o’erta’en.
My lord Bassanio upon more advice
Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat
Your company at dinner.
Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat
Your company at dinner.
PORTIA That cannot be.
His ring I do accept most thankfully,
And so I pray you tell him. Furthermore,
I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house.
And so I pray you tell him. Furthermore,
I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house.
GRAZIANO
That will I do.
NERISSA Sir, I would speak with you.
(
Aside to Portia
) I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring
Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
Aside to Portia
) I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring
Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
PORTIA (
aside to Nerissa
)
aside to Nerissa
)
Thou mayst; I warrant we shall have old swearing
That they did give the rings away to men.
But we’ll outface them, and outswear them too.
Away, make haste. Thou know’st where I will tarry.
That they did give the rings away to men.
But we’ll outface them, and outswear them too.
Away, make haste. Thou know’st where I will tarry.
Exit ⌈
at one door
⌉
at one door
⌉
NERISSA (
to Graziano
)
to Graziano
)
Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?
Exeunt
⌈
at another door
⌉
5.1⌈
at another door
⌉
Enter Lorenzo and Jessica
LORENZO
The moon shines bright. In such a night as this,
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees
And they did make no noise—in such a night
Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls,
And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents
Where Cressid lay that night.
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees
And they did make no noise—in such a night
Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls,
And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents
Where Cressid lay that night.
JESSICA In such a night
Did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew
And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself,
And ran dismayed away.
And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself,
And ran dismayed away.
LORENZO In such a night
Stood Dido with a willow in her hand
Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love
To come again to Carthage.
Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love
To come again to Carthage.
JESSICA In such a night
Medea gathered the enchanted herbs
That did renew old Aeson.
That did renew old Aeson.
LORENZO In such a night
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice
As far as Belmont.
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice
As far as Belmont.
JESSICA In such a night
Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne’er a true one.
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne’er a true one.
LORENZO In such a night
Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.
JESSICA
I would outnight you, did nobody come.
But hark, I hear the footing of a man.
Enter Stefano, a messenger
LORENZO
Who comes so fast in silence of the night?
STEFANO A friend.
LORENZO
A friend—what friend? Your name, I pray you, friend?
STEFANO
Stefano is my name, and I bring word
My mistress will before the break of day
Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about
By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays
For happy wedlock hours.
My mistress will before the break of day
Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about
By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays
For happy wedlock hours.
LORENZO Who comes with her?
STEFANO
None but a holy hermit and her maid.
I pray you, is my master yet returned?
LORENZO
He is not, nor we have not heard from him.
But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,
And ceremoniously let us prepare
Some welcome for the mistress of the house.
And ceremoniously let us prepare
Some welcome for the mistress of the house.
Enter Lancelot, the clown
LANCELOT (
calling
) Sola, sola! Wo, ha, ho! Sola, sola!
calling
) Sola, sola! Wo, ha, ho! Sola, sola!
LORENZO Who calls?
LANCELOT (
calling
) Sola!—Did you see Master Lorenzo?
calling
) Sola!—Did you see Master Lorenzo?
(
Calling
) Master Lorenzo! Sola, sola!
Calling
) Master Lorenzo! Sola, sola!
LORENZO Leave hollering, man: here.
LANCELOT (calling) Sola!—Where, where?
LORENZO Here.
LANCELOT Tell him there’s a post come from my master with his horn full of good news. My master will be here ere morning. Exit
LORENZO (
to Jessica
)
to Jessica
)
Sweet soul, let’s in, and there expect their coming.
And yet no matter. Why should we go in?
My friend Stefano, signify, I pray you,
Within the house your mistress is at hand,
And bring your music forth into the air.
Exit Stefano
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music
Creep in our ears. Soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica.
And yet no matter. Why should we go in?
My friend Stefano, signify, I pray you,
Within the house your mistress is at hand,
And bring your music forth into the air.
Exit Stefano
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music
Creep in our ears. Soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica.
⌈
They
⌉
sit
Look how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid with patens of bright gold.
There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still choiring to the young-eyed cherubins.
Such harmony is in immortal souls,
But whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still choiring to the young-eyed cherubins.
Such harmony is in immortal souls,
But whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
⌈
Enter Musicians
⌉
(
To the Musicians
) Come, ho, and wake Diana with a
hymn.
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear,
And draw her home with music.
To the Musicians
) Come, ho, and wake Diana with a
hymn.
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear,
And draw her home with music.
The Musicians play
JESSICA
I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
LORENZO
The reason is your spirits are attentive,
For do but note a wild and wanton herd
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood,
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze
By the sweet power of music. Therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods,
Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.
For do but note a wild and wanton herd
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood,
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze
By the sweet power of music. Therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods,
Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.
Enter Portia and Nerissa, as themselves
Other books
Colder Than Ice by Maggie Shayne
Hockey Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Emma Barry by Brave in Heart
Skies of Ash by Rachel Howzell Hall
A Good Indian Wife: A Novel by Cherian, Anne
Collected Kill: Volume 2 by Patrick Kill
Brass and Bone by Cynthia Gael
Firewalker by Josephine Angelini
5 Murder at Volcano House by Chip Hughes
Marrying Up by Jackie Rose